New Haven Man Sentenced to 23 Months in Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of Ammunition

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that NORMAN WIGGINS, 28, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 23 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawful possession of ammunition.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 5, 2018, members of the New Haven Police Shooting Task Force conducted a controlled purchase of crack cocaine from Wiggins, who was staying at a motel on Whalley Avenue.  A court-authorized search of Wiggins’ motel room revealed a box of Remington .38 caliber ammunition containing four live rounds.

Wiggins’ criminal history includes state felony convictions for drug offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

On June 13, 2019, Wiggins pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

On July 13, 2019, while he was released on bond and awaiting sentencing, Wiggins was arrested by New Haven Police at the same Whalley Avenue motel and charged with criminal possession of a firearm and breach of peace in the second degree.  While Wiggins was being processed for those offenses at the New Haven Correction Center, a cavity search revealed a quantity of crack cocaine.  Wiggins was subsequently charged with smuggling contraband into prison, possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute narcotics.  He has been detained since his arrest, and the charges are pending in state court.

This matter was investigated by the New Haven Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.